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Sun 25 Aug 2013 | 09:42
Springboks scrape through tough second Test with Argentina in Mendoza

12
Comments

The Springboks stuttered to a 22-17 victory over a much improved Argentina side in Mendoza on Saturday. Last year they drew 16-16, and on this occasion it was the home side that looked ready to take the win, if it were not for two late Morne Steyn penalties.

Argentina, who were crushed 73-13 by the Springboks in Soweto last weekend, bounced back well and started the better of the two teams, scoring within two minutes of kickoff.

They matched up physically and chopped down the big Bok runners, and managed to counter the powerful lineout maul, a weapon the Springboks usually use with success.

Juan Manuel Leguizamon, who was outstanding up front, scored the first try then later centre Marcelo Bosch crossed following some weak tackling. Bjorn Basson scored South Africa's only try, while Morne Steyn kicked five penalties.

"We did not play too well," admitted Springboks skipper Jean de Villiers. "But let us give credit to Argentina for stopping us from imposing control over the game. I was hoping that we could play more expansively.

"The breakdown was a massive fight which both teams contested well, but we must sharpen up in that area before playing in Australia and New Zealand," he added.

In what was a brutally physical match, tempers flared when Francois Louw claimed he was eye gouged, and Eben Etzebeth alerted referee Steve Walsh to bite marks on his arm. An interesting few minutes followed as Walsh said he will get the citing commisioner to look at it, but De Villiers said they'd rather have the benefit of the punishment during the match.

At that moment, the communications with the TMO failed, so there was no further action. Argentina number eight Leonardo Senatore has since been cited, as the citing commissioner deemed the biting incident to have met the red-card threshold for foul play.

The Springboks and All Blacks both have 9 points, but the Boks are top of the Rugby Championship table due to points difference. Argentina have a single point, while the Wallabies have zero.

Better quality highlights and more from this game will be posted soon

Posted By: Grant Constable

12 Comments

  • paimoe
    4:50 PM 27/08/2013

    and if you shove, expect a punch in the face from Tuilagi

  • reality
    7:38 PM 26/08/2013

    I think it's because they just have so much to do. There are so many rules and ways to break the rules at any one point in time and so many people capable of breaking them that it's very difficult for a human being to actually manage it all. That's one part of the equation anyway. Another is referees being scared of making bad decisions. If we all see something happen we can immediately cry foul we don't have to stick to our guns and face the consequences. If we're wrong then we don't suffer; if a referee is wrong he does - at least in some occasions - suffer, or at least get criticised, so they'll often take the 'safe' option. As well as that, we have a bird's eye view of everything from our comfy chairs which makes it easy to spot things. The referee has to run his backside off and see everything at eye level, so it's a lot more difficult.

    And finally, referees don't have to face the music for bad performances as much as they should, so the bad ones aren't weeded out, and without that stick to force them to be better they're probably a bit complacent.

  • finedisregard
    3:07 PM 26/08/2013

    Why are there so few "top level" rugby referees? We see the same guys over and over. Refs aren't celebrities, we shouldn't know their names. I don't know of any other sport like this. The best ref is the one you don't notice, and I ALWAYS notice this guy.

  • xonmeerkat
    3:06 PM 26/08/2013

    Poor game. A lot of underhanded stuff and off the ball incidents. The referee seemed disinterested. Hopefully both teams can build from this and produce better games later in the tournament.

  • xonmeerkat
    3:03 PM 26/08/2013

    Got to love the insults SA gets. But whenever I watch NZ, Samoa I see the same, even worse.

  • 12:00 PM 26/08/2013

    Steve Walsh is inconsistent. He is probably the best of the Australian refs out there and he does have the capacity to ref a good game but doesn't do it consistently enough. He does love to talk though.

  • jimter10
    8:40 AM 26/08/2013

    Good to hear Saffas taking the moral high ground. Msybe he choked him cos he thought he was a burglar

  • drg
    12:49 AM 26/08/2013

    Saying that, if you choke, expect a bite. If you bite, expect a shove...

  • drg
    12:49 AM 26/08/2013

    I'm with you there. Not saying EE is a saint, but there wasn't much in his "choke"...

  • guy
    3:13 PM 25/08/2013

    'Better quality highlights and more from this game will be posted soon'.

    Totally agree on the rest of your post, looks like he had it coming.

  • 2:57 PM 25/08/2013

    I gotta say I find these hilites a lil lacking RD, you usually post pretty decent replays for most of the tries.

    In regards to the bite alleged by Bruno, that's a pretty good choke hold he's got on the puma, I might react the same way

  • finedisregard
    2:03 PM 25/08/2013

    Eben Etzebeth is the new Bakkies Botha. You got to have at least one out and out goon on any South African side.

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